The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-07-08
DISAPPOINTMENT,
st. Louis Citizens Chagrined
at President Cleveland
FOR REFUSING TO VISIT THEM,
They Strongly Denounce the Men
Who Were Instrumental in De-
feating Their Plan-Etc.
The Effect of the D Destination.


ST. LOUIS, July THE Presidents
letter to Mayor Francis, withdrawing
his acceptance of the invitation of the
people of st. Louis to visit the city dur
ing the G. A. 3. encampment, has
stirred up hot and diversified expires
sion of opinion. The committee that
took the invitation to the President feel
their labor has been in vain, and are
strong in the denunciation OF the men
who were instrumental in the defeat OF
their plan. Their friends are equally
displeased, especially so, as the citizens
of st. Louis had made great effort to
induce the President to make the visit
The chagrin was so great with many
that they wished to organize i'm,
mediately to invite the Grand
Army to find another place for
their encampment, and some
promised very icy reception to
the gallant soldiers. There were many
others, however, who saw the wisdom
of the Presidents course and were
pleased that the city had been humili.
ated and are indignant about it, but
agree that the Grand Army's encamp-
ment shall be glorious success and
that at some other time the President
shall have a reception in keeping with
the high Office he holds. A committee
was appointed to draw up resolutions
to be submitted to a mass meeting Of
citizens that will be called to assemble
at the Merchants Exchange tomorrow
afternoon. These resolutions will en-
body an invitation to the President
to visit the city, during fair week early
in October, or at some other time tina
may suit his convenience and viii
promise him an enthusiastic reception
A citizens committee will then be ap-
pointed to again visit the President anC
endeavor to induce him to come.
growers LEVEL HEAD.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON.
David r. Francis, Mayor of st. Louis
Frank dGrcane, President of the Mer-
chants Exchange and John ". Noble
Commander, Frank z. Blair, Post No.
G. A. r. Committee:
| GentLemen:- l have hitherto
made no formal response to your invi
tation given in February last to mysel
and Mrs. Cleveland to attend the Ma
tional EncampmentG Grand Army of tn,
! Republic, to be held in St. Louis from
/ the 9Th to the 30th of September next
have verbally indicated my purpost
to accept it if l should find it possibl,
then to be absent from Washington
The sentiment contained in your lette1
that the organization was never in sc
flourishlng condition as now
nor its members half so large, that NJ
effort is being spared by the citizens
of st. Louis to ensure a welcome
of unusual warmth at this frs
encampment of that body ever helC
in southern State, and you,
suggestion that no compliment coulC
more fittingly be bestowed upon thu
valiant defenders of our common
country by the chief executive of re
stored union, and none would be more
highly appreciated than that conferred
by his presence at such time and place
enlisted nv feeling and interest. Nor
recently, indications have been dis
closed that, however correctly you ex
pressed the prevailing sentiment IN thu
Grand Army, there are members o
some parts of that body entertaining
different feeling in respect to my accept
ancs of YOUR invitation which would leat
to discord in the organization swell 81
an interruption of cordislity at the
coming engagement, and without en-
tering into discussions of these opin1'
ions and unmoved by any feeling, al.
though deeply regret the condition.
can but regard it as my duty to refrain
from contributing by my, action to Sc
undesirable result. Nothing can be o
greater Importance in connection with
the encampment than the free and IN
restrained manifestation by its partlci
pants of that patriotic feeling suggested
by the selection of the place of holdlnE
If and which is at once the proof OF
complete success of their arms. and the
highest glory of our veteran soldiers. :
am constrained, therefore, to withhold
NV purposed acceptance OF your inVl
tation, In doing SO, l assure you OF my
unfeigned hope and sincere wish thai
in the agreeable observation-disclosures
for them by the hospitable people 0
ST, Louis, the veterans OF the Gran!
Army may enjoy the most pieasan!
profitable and useful reunion IN thel
history. Very truly yours.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
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